Jason Kidd Becomes Nets Head Coach

Jason Kidd has been hired to become the next head coach of the Brooklyn Nets.

Following the departure of last year’s Head Coach P.J. Carlesimo, the Brooklyn Nets searched for a new coach. The Nets ended their search with a familiar face in Jason Kidd, coming to terms with the recently retired guard to become the next head coach of their basketball team.

Having retired from playing the game less than two weeks ago, it seems an unbelievably short period of time for Kidd to have landed a coaching job, let alone a head coaching job.

Kidd played 19 seasons in the NBA before deciding it was time to hang it up as a member of the New York Knicks this season. He was one of the best point guards to ever play the game, and was able to sustain a high level of play for the greater part of two decades.

A key member of the the Nets, then of New Jersey, he led the team to back to back NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003. He won a championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011.

As a player, he had some of the best court vision the NBA has ever seen. He could seemingly see a play developing before it even happened. Despite a lack of coaching experience, the Brooklyn Nets have made an investment that Jason Kidd can carry that over into success as a head coach.

His vision and ability to avoid mistakes and turnovers was uncanny. He earned a reputation for having an otherworldly gift to both lead his team on the court, as well as place all in position to reach their highest potential.

Management of the Brooklyn Nets doesn’t seem concerned by the lack of experience that comes with hiring a new coach like Jason Kidd. In a statement released by the team, Nets owner Mihail Prokhorov said “Jason Kidd has a long and legendary history with the Nets and with the city of New York. He has the fire in the belly we need…. Welcome home, Jason.”

Jason Kidd is not concerned about the transition between playing last year and now coaching for the Brooklyn Nets, in a statement he released he explained that “it’s a role I have been studying for over the course of my playing days. Championship teams are built on being prepared, playing unselfishly and being held accountable, and that’s how I expect to coach this basketball team.”

Kidd comes into a situation that is pretty positive. Brooklyn is coming off of one of its bets seasons in the recent future. Finishing the season 49-33 and qualifying for the playoffs for the first time in six seasons, the Nets seemed to turn a corner last season. Nonetheless coach P.J. Carlismo was released by the team, and Kidd was brought in by the Nets to light a spark under the team as their head coach.

Prokhorov has a lot of optimism for his team, targeting 2015 as his goal for winning a championship. That optimism has rubbed off on the fan base, Nets merchandise was one of the hottest sellers during the past year, and figured to see another uptick with the signing of Kidd as head coach.

Terms of the contract have not been released, although it is rumored to be a three year deal.